CALIFORNIA, Md. — St. Mary’s County Animal Services is partnering with a newly formed nonprofit to give puppies from an overcrowded South Carolina shelter a second chance, while continuing to prioritize care for local animals.
The municipal shelter said limited access to spay and neuter services in parts of the country often leads to an influx of unwanted litters, overwhelming underfunded shelters and forcing difficult decisions about animal care. While St. Mary’s County Animal Services frequently has the space and adopter interest to help, its budget is restricted to serving animals from within the county.
That challenge eased recently through a collaboration with Animal Rescue & Outreach Organization, or AROO, a new 501(c)(3) founded by Doug. The nonprofit offered to fully fund the transportation and veterinary care for a group of puppies coming from a high-intake facility in South Carolina, allowing the county shelter to house the animals without diverting resources from local needs.
The puppies are currently in an intake quarantine and are not yet available for adoption. Shelter officials anticipate they will be ready in time for a free adoption weekend scheduled for Feb. 13 through Feb. 15.
Animal Services officials said partnerships like this one allow the shelter to extend its impact beyond county lines without compromising its core mission. They also noted AROO plans to work on additional local initiatives alongside the shelter, including low-cost vaccine clinics and funding for life-saving veterinary surgeries.
To learn more about Animal Rescue & Outreach Organization or to support its mission, visit https://www.aroostmarys.org/.
Additional information about St. Mary’s County Animal Services, including adoption programs and upcoming events, is available at https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/animalshelter/.
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Good people doing good things! My kind of people!
Hopefully no measles attached! Stay safe, stay vaccinated and get a booster if you need it (looking at you older Americans).